Film Directors and Producers

Film Directors and Producers. Alien, Woody 1935 a comic actor and maker of humorous films. Since the late 1960s, he has been directing films and acting in them, usually playing a neurotic, bookish New Yorker. Some of his best-known films have been Annie Hall, Manhattan and Hannah and Her Sisters. Capra, Frank 1897-1991 - a film director, best known for the films Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Its a Wonderful Night. Chaplin, Charlie Charles Spencer 1889-1977 an English actor and director who worked mainly in the United States in silent black-and-white comedy films.

He created the beloved character, the Little Tramp, who wore a shabby black suit, derby hat and floppy shoes, and walked with the backs of his feet together and the toes pointing outwards. He always walked with a cane. By 1918 Chaplin had forsaken short comedies for longer, independently made films, including Shoulder Arms 1918 and The Kid 1921. His major films, produced for United Artists a film company which he helped to found in 1923, included The Gold Rush 1925, The Circus 1928, City Lights 1931 and Modern Times 1936, the latter two made as silent films with synchronized sound effects.

Chaplin spoke on the screen for the first time in The Great Dictator 1940, which ridiculed Hitler and Mussolini. In Monsieur Verdoux 1947, which draws an acid analogy between warfare and business morality, the tramp disappeared entirely the film provided further ammunition for a growing anti- Chaplin group who attacked his unconventional personal life and political views.

After 1952 Chaplin resided in Switzerland. He starred in his production A King in New York 1957, a sharp satire on contemporary America, and wrote and directed A Countess from Hongkong 1967. Chaplin made a triumphant return to the United States in 1972. He was given an Academy Award an Oscar for his part in making motion pictures the art form of the century.

Coppola, Francis Ford 1939- a film director, best known for the films The Godfather and Apocalypse Now. Ford, John 1895-1973 - a film director, especially known for his Westerns including Stagecoach, How the West Was Won, etc. Goldwin, Samuel 1882-1947 - a film producer, head of one of the companies, which later became MGM. Goldwyn is famous for saying odd things like include me out. Griffith, D. W. 1875-1948 - a film maker, known especially for his use of new photographic methods and for his epic silent films, such as The Birth of the Nation 1915 that required huge casts and enormous sets. Griffith directed the first film, The Adventures of Dollie, in 1908 and went on to make hundreds of pictures.

With The Birth of the Nation, he created a landmark in film industry. Also influential on the future of the film was Intolerance 1916. Griffith continued to make successful films throughout the 1920s. However, the Victorian sentiment that pervades his films was increasingly alien to the theme. He failed to make the transition to sound pictures.

Russel, Ken 1926- a film director, best known for documentary films and for the film Women in Love. Scorsese, Martin 1942 a film director whose works include Taxi Driver, The Last Temptation of Christ, etc. Spielberg, Steven 1946 a film director who has made many very popular films, including Jaws, LT, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars, Empire of the Sun, etc. His films are well known for being very fast moving and full of exciting action.

Zinneman, Frederick 1907- an American film director, born in Austria, famous for the films such as High Noon and The Day of Jackal. Wilder Billy 1906- a film director whose films include Sunset Boulevard and Some Like It Hot. Films. The Birth of the Nation a dramatic silent film from 1915 about the American Civil War. The Birth of the Nation was directed by D. W. Griffith.

The film, based on Thomas Dixons novel The Clansman, has been condemned for historical distortion and racial bias, but it became a landmark in the artistic development of motion pictures through its successful introduction of many now-standard film techniques. Planet of the Apes - a film set in about imaginary future where monkeys rule the world. Psycho a horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It is especially known for a scene in which the character Mario Janet Leigh is stabbed in a shower by Norman Bates Anthony Perkins.

Rocky the first of a group of films later ones were called Rocky II, Rock III, etc starring Sylvester Stallone as a determined boxer called Rocky. In each of the films the main character overcomes difficulties and win a fight against a strong opponent. The films are especially popular with young people. Star Wars a popular science-fiction film about the battle between the hero, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader, an evil person who wears a black mask over his face and comes from an evil empire.

The film was directed by Steven Spielberg and is remembered for its many new exciting special effects. The Terminator a film with Arnold Schwarzenegger, set in Los Angeles in the near future in which a lot of people are killed. The film was followed by Terminator II. Actors and Actresses. Astaire, Fred 1899 1987 a dancer, singer and actor who made many films, often with his dancing partner, Ginger Rogers, and who was known for his stylishness.

Bassinger, Kim 1954 a film actress, known especially for playing attractive, sexy women. Brando, Marlon 1924 an actor whose films include A Streetcar Named Desire, On the Waterfront, The Godfather, etc. Cooper, Gary 1901 1962 an actor who often played strong, silent heroes, for example in the film High Noon. Costner, Kevin 1955 an actor and director whose films include Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, JFK, etc. Cruise, Tom 1962 an actor who has played leading film parts since the early 1980s, e.g. in Top Gun and Cocktail.

He is especially popular with women. De Niro, Robert 1945 an actor, known especially for his part in the films Taxi Driver and The Deer Hunter. Dietrich, Marlene 1904 1992 an American actress and nightclub performer, born in Germany, who usually played the part of an extremely sexually attractive woman. She is best remembered for her part in the film Blue Angel. Douglas, Kirk 1916 a film actor, known for playing the hero in films such as Spartacus.

Douglas, Michael 1944 a film actor, son of Kirk Douglas, known for his part in the films Fatal Attraction and Romancing the Stone. Eastwood, Clint 1930 a film actor and director, best known for playing parts as a gunfighter in Westerns and a modern city police officer. His characters almost always have their right on their side, and no fear. Fonda, Henry 1905-1982 - an actor who made many films including The Grapes of Wrath, Twelve Angry Men, On Golden Pond, etc. Fonda, Jane 1937 an actress, daughter of Henry Fonda, known for her left-wing views, especially her support for Vietnam and her opposition to the American government during the Vietnam War. Her best-known films are The China Syndrome and, with her father, On Golden Pond. She is also known for her interest in active physical exercise.

Fonda, Peter 1939 an actor and director, best known for his film Easy Rider son of Henry Fonda. Fox, Michael 1961- an American actor, born in Canada, who has appeared in such films as Back to the Future parts 1, 2, 3. He is very popular, especially with young girls. Gable, Clark 1901-1960 - a film actor, best known for his role as Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind. He also appeared in many other Hollywood films, including Mutiny on the Bounty, The Misfits, etc. Garbo, Greta 1905 1990 an American film actress, born in Sweden.

She was celebrated for her classic beauty and her portrayals of moody characters. Having first attracted notice in the Swedish silent film The Story of Gosta Berling 1924, Garbo went to the United States in 1925 and became perhaps the most celebrated motion-picture actress of the time, a provocative, enigmatic embodiment of feminine beauty and mystery.

Flesh and the Devil was her best-known silent film among her notable talking pictures were Anna Christie and the comedy Ninotchka. Greta Garbo became famous for her with drawn, aloof off-screen personality. In the movie Grand Hotel, she made the famous complaint, I want to be alone.

Garbo retired from the movies in the early 1940s and lived as a recluse ever since. Garland, Judy 1922-1969 - a film actress and singer who was most famous as the character of Dorothy in the film The Wizard of Oz. Gere, Richard 1949 an actor, known especially for his part in the films American Gigolo, An Officer and a Gentleman and Pretty Woman. Goldberg, Whoopi 1949 a film actress who appeared in The Color Purple and Ghost. Grant, Cary 1904-1986 - an American actor, born in Britain, who is remembered especially for his comic films including The Philadelphia Story and Bringing Up Baby. Hoffman, Dustin 1937 a film actor, best known for his roles in the films The Graduate, Kramer vs. Kramer, Midnight Cowboy, The Rain Man, etc. Kelly, Gene 1912-1996 - a film actor, dancer and director who appeared in many musicals of the 1940s and 1950s, including Singing in the Rain, in which he sang and danced to a song with the same name. Kelly, Grace 1928-1982 - a film actress, star of High Noon and High Society in the 1950s, who became Princess Grace of Monaco when she married Prince Rainier.

Marvin, Lee 1924 1987 a film actor, known especially for playing strong, violent characters in films such as The Dirty Dozen and Point Blank. He is also remembered for singing the song I was born under a wandering star in a very deep voice. Mathau, Walter 1922 an actor in films and theater, known especially for his humorous roles, e.g. in The Odd Couple.

Monroe, Marilyn 1926 1962 a film actress whose real name was Norma Jean Baker, who starred in films during the middle of the 20th century and became the leading sex symbol of the 1950s. Monroe first attracted notice in The Asphalt Jungle, thereafter she became a reigning screen siren. Her major films include Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Seven Year Itch, Bus Stop and Some Like It Hot. While still in her thirties, she died of an overdose of sleeping pills.

To many people, Marilyn Monroe is a tragic symbol of the unhappiness that can accompany fame and glamor.

Murphy, Eddie 1961 an actor and comedian who first became known for his work on the television program Saturday Night Live but now is known mostly for his films, such as Trading Places and Beverly Hills Cop. Newman, Paul 1925 an actor and director, lending male star of Hollywood films in the 1900s and 1970s and considered very attractive. His films include Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, The Color of Money, etc. Nicholson, Jack 1937 an actor who started appearing in films in the l960s, such as Easy Rider which represented the feelings of young Americans, and has now become a big Hollywood star. Pacino, Al 1940 an actor, known for the films such as The Godfather and Scarface.

Poitier, Sidney 1927 a black Amer ican film star and director, who was one of the first black actors to play serious parts rather than black stereotypes. Pryor, Richard 1940 a comedian who has appeared in films and made several records.

He is black and often makes jokes about situations involving black and white people together. Redford, Robert 1937 a film actor and director who was in films such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,The Sting and Out of Africa. He is popular for his good looks as well as his acting. Schwarzenegger, Arnold 1947 an American actor, born in Austria, whose bodybuilding appearance won him the titles of Mr. Gcrriiaiiy and Mr. Universe. He is best known for his part in the film The Terminator in which he plays the hero. Scott, George C. 1926 an actor, best known for his film parts, especially strong-willed characters, such as soldiers. He was the first actor to refuse an Oscar. Streisand, Barbra 1942 a singer and actress who has performed on stage and in many successful film musicals, including Hello, Dolly, The Way We Were, A Star is Born, etc. Taylor, Elizabeth 1932 an American film actress, born in Britain.

She began making films at the age of ten, but is perhaps at least as well known for marriages, of which there have been eight two of them to Richard Burton.

Temple, Shirley 1928 a film actress who was the child star of over 20 films in the 1930s, and in later life, as Shirley Temple Black, became a US ambassador. She was very popular when her films first appeared because of her style of singing, dancing and acting and her curly golden hair. Valentino, Rudolph 1895 I926 an American film actor, born in Italy. He was famous for playing the part of a lover in silent films, especially in The Sheikh.

He is sometimes mentioned as a typical example of a good-looking romantic man. Valentino was a ballroom dancer and movie extra before reaching stardom in Four Horsemen in the Apocalypse 1921. Soon he became the American women s idea of masculinity, and his private life and loves were avidly reported in newspapers and magazines. His physique, his good looks and his physical grace were well exhibited in The Sheikh and Monsieur Beaucaire.

Valentino s most successful film is Blood and Sand, for here he seems able to bring some of his own personality to the portrayal of the matador, an opportunity his other, more stereotyped roles had thwarted. His untimely death created a national furor and reportedly drove some of his fans to suicide. Wayne, John 1907-1979 - a film actor who often played tough guys, particularly soldiers and cowboys. Early in his career Wayne appeared as Hollywoods first singing cowboy.

In 1939, in Stagecoach, he achieved star status. In his 50-year career he appeared in more than 200 motion pictures. Some of his outstanding films are Red River, The Quiet Man, The High and Mighty, The Searchers, True Grit, for which he won an Academy Award 1969, and Shootist. The characters John Wayne played, especially in Westerns Stagecoach, True Grit, were often honest, strong, independent and patriotic. Because he played these characters, John Wayne was thought to have those qualities himself and was an example of a good American.

His old-fashioned patriotism made him something of a folk hero. In 1979 he was voted a Congressional gold medal the inscription read, John Wayne American. Williams, Robin 1952 an actor and comedian whose films include Good Morning, Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, etc. Marilyn Monroe. I think that the greatest actress not only of the USA, but of the whole world is Marilyn Monroe. So I d like to tell some facts about her life. Six queens come and go, easily crowned, easily forgotten.

Yet Marilyn Monroe s memory has remained very much alive. Admirers still cut her picture out of public library books, artists still paint her even the young have become familiar with her name and her face by watching her films on television. Death has changed the sexy blonde into a myth, a symbol of soft femininity and loveliness. Nowadays she is sometimes mistaken for a saintly martyr, which she certainly was not. But then, what was she Those who knew her disagree so violently that it is difficult to see the real woman through the conflicting judgments of her friends.

A simple little girl to her first husband, producer Mike Todd, she was also been described as the most unappreciated person in the world, the meanest woman in Hollywood, a tart, an enchanting child, an idiot, a wit, a great natural intelligence, a victim, and a clod user of people From the very contradiction, one can guess that she was not simple. And obviously she had something special- not talent, perhaps, but a certain spark.

It is well known that most of her problems had their roots in an unhappy childhood. Marilyn had come into the world in a Los Angel s hospital as Norma Jean Mortensen. Her mother, Gladys Monroe Mortensen, loved her child but since she had to work, she left her in the hands of Ida and Albert Bolender, a respectable couple who boarded children on their farm. Norma Jean spent her first seven years with them. Her physical needs were well looked after, and Gladys visited faithfully every weekend.

But when she had gone, there was not much warmth around the little girl. For Norma Jean, who was extremely sensitive, it was a lonely, distressing childhood. In 1933 Gladys bought a house and took her daughter home with her. But she was not there much and when she was out, Norma Jean had to stay with the elderly couple who rented part of the house. They were not bad people, only indifferent and more interested in drinking than in baby-sitting. When Norma Jean didn t have to go to school, the couple dropped her at a nearly movie house in time for the first afternoon show. The little girl watched happily all day, and after the last matinee she walked home by herself.

In her room, later, she would act out the whole story. In this way she developed a passion for acting that she never outgrew. After nine months of live together, Gladys had a mental collaps and was hospitalized. She appeared from time to time in her daughter s life, but more as a burden than as a support.

Many people took Norma Jean under their wings throughout the years. She looked so insecure, so defenseless, that men and women alike felt compelled to protect her. However vague Norma Jean may have been about life in general, she never felt vague about the career she wanted to have. She wanted to be an actress. But the first three years of Marilyn s career didn t bring her more than a few very small parts.

She kept herself alive by modeling. In 1950 Marilyn attracted attention in a small part in The Asphalt Jungle, which had been obtained for her by a powerful protector. Another protector, and the most influential by far, was the agent Johnny Hyde. Hyde was a powerful man in Hollywood when he met Marilyn. He was too wise to claim that she had talent instead he insisted that such personality didn t need to be talented. He succeeded in getting her a part in All About Eve, a film that was to prove lucky for all its actors.

The font mail started piling up. The Hollywood columnists included the new blonde in their gossip columns. Soon Life and Look magazines were honoring her with long articles, and one critic ventured to declare her a forceful actress. The studio, after having her co-star in several pictures, finally gave her a starring role in Niagara in 1953. She had become the Fox s biggest moneymaker. Whenever she appeared she was cornered by excited admirers and photographers.

But there was no private happiness behind the facade, and even her fame was not of the kind she would have liked. She resented her shallow roles she resented the fact she had no voice in the choice of her scripts and that her old contract was keeping salary ridiculously low for a star. Hurt, she retaliated as best as she could. She arrived late on the set, unprepared and obviously indifferent to the hardships. She was imposing on the other actors and the technicians. Scenes had to be redone forty or fifty times because she could not remember a four-word sentence.

If something displeased her, she locked herself in her dressing room, or failed to show up at all for days. Her behavior disgusted the people who worked with her, but her fans loved the radiant child-woman on the screen. In 1961 after divorcing her next husband the famous American playwright Arthur Miller, Marilyn drifted back to the West Coast to open a new page in her life. On August 5, 1962 she was found dead in her house.

She had made many attempts at suicide before. But it does not seem that she intended to hill herself that Saturday. When she retired for the night, she had plans for the next day. But early in the morning her housekeeper found her dead. The world was shocked. In the words of one of her biographers She broke her heart trying to achieve something she didn t have in her to accomplish. Walt Disney Walt Disney was an American artist and film producer, who was famous for his animated cartoons. He was born on December 5, 1901 in Chicago, his father being Irish Canadian, his mother of German-American origin.

In his early child hood he revealed a talent for drawing and an interest in photography. His teens he began an art course, but World War I broke out and he drove for the Red Cross in Europe. When he got back to America he met artist Ub Iwerks, and they went into business together. In 1923 he left with his brother for Hollywood Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks made a series of short cartoons but lost all their money, and for some years struggled against poverty.

Luckily, Walt s brother Roy gave him more to start up again. The first talking picture came out in 1927 and Disney realized that sound held the key to the future of films. He developed many techniques in producing cartoons. His most famous characters are Mickey Mouse, Duck and Pluto. The first Mickey Mouse cartoon was drawn 1928. It was the first sound cartoon, which brought great success to its creator.

In the early cartoons he was really horrible. He looked quite rat-like with long pointed nose and small eyes. Later his face changed. His head got as big as his body or almost, his eyes got bigger, too. He got younger instead of older. That makes him cuter. Now it is an acceptable symbol for the USA. Donald Duck was created in 1936. Walt Disney took the biggest risk of his career and spent a fortune on a full-length cartoon. Finally, the first full-length cartoon feature film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was brought out in 1935, which the public paid millions of dollars to see The songs to the cartoon were written by Frank Churchill.

After the Second World War Disney turned his attention to real life nature studies and non-cartoon films with living actors. In the 1950 s and 1960 s, Walt Disney began developing the family-entertainment parks, Disneyland and Disney World. The first Disneyland was opened in southern California in 1955. It is situated 27 miles south of Los Angeles, at Anaheim.

Of all the show-places none is as famous as Disneyland. This superb kingdom of fantasy linked to technology was created by Walt Disney. The park is divided into six themes and there is so much to see and do in each that no one would attempt to see all of them in one visit. For extended visits, there are hotels nearby. In 1971 Disney World was opened in Florida. Walt Disney died in California at the age of 65. But his films are still shown regularly at the cinema, because of their time1esS quality and will be shown for years to come. Walter Walt Elias Disney has won more Oscars the awards of the United States Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, instituted on May 16, 1929 and named after Oscar Pierce of Texas, USA than any other person20 statuettes and 12 other plagues and certificates, including posthumous awards.

Titanic. The shooting of Titanic in 1997 brought people flocking to the cinemas. It has become a blockbuster and brought big profits to the producers.

The reasons areon the one hand, the thrilling plot of the film, depicting the first of the greatest disasters of the 20th century, and, on the other hand, new technologies of film making, used by James Cameron, the producer. Everybody wanted to see if the film was really worth eleven Oscar awards. Titanic is the latest screen version of the tragedy happened on April 14-15, 1912 during the maiden voyage of the British luxury passenger liner.

The vessel sank with a loss of about 1,500 livesmen, women, children. Their voyage on board the dream ship ended in a nightmare. It revealted all human vices arrogance, self-satisfaction, greed, selfishness and self-confidence. But at the same time this tragedy showed the best traits of humancharacter the sense of duty and responsibility, self-sacrifice and short but immortial love. The love-story about Jack and Rose, a young poor artist and a 17-year old girl from the upper society, arouses uor sympathy and admiration.

Paired with the main story-line, it adds much to the impression of the film. Titanic made the leading actors Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winslent international celebrities. The music of James Horner created a special atmosphere in the film and has become popular with the public. The film is interesting not only from the artistic point of view, but from the technical ones as well. Both the ship and the ocean are virtual, created by computers. Besides, we can see unique pictures of The Titanic buried in the depth of the ocean.

Its wreck was found lying in two pieces on the ocean floor at the depth of about 4,000 metres. The pictures were taken with the help of the Russian ocean-explores and shown to the whole world. By the way, the film was directed by James Cameron, famous for creating very expensive films with new special effects, which were the biggest box-office success. Titanic is not an exception. Critics say the film has opened a new era in film production.

I think they are right.